AJHawkfan
Wanna make $14 the hard way?
This is at the end of an article in today's Dayton Paper.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/osu/daily/0808osufb.html
Some Buckeyes prefer shaggy look
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | Ohio State football players hunkered down for the start of fall camp Sunday, lugging boxes and trunks into the University Plaza Hotel, which is just a couple of pooch punts from the Woody Hayes practice facility.
But judging from the fashionable mop tops many Buckeyes are sporting these days, one item that may be hard to find at the team's headquarters is hair clippers.
Senior linebackers Bobby Carpenter and A.J. Hawk are among a brigade wearing bangs over their eyes and locks that will protrude from the back of their helmets.
After three years of looking as if they stepped off the set of the sitcom Happy Days, the group could audition for roles on That '70s Show.
"We all decided to get together and let our hair grow out and make a statement," Carpenter said. "Hopefully, we'll play well and not lose any games, so we won't have to cut it.
"My dad and mom have gotten on me — so have A.J.'s. But my dad had long hair in the '70s. His hair came out the back of his helmet, so he needs to chill out. And I tell my mom, 'You're the one who married him. You must not have disliked it too much.'
"Old-school hair is the way to go."
Linebackers coach Luke Fickell has given the players some grief, but he was quickly dismissed.
"I remember the way Kevin Greene of the Steelers wore his hair," Carpenter said, "and I always thought it looked sweet with him. ... I'd rather be a trend-setter than a trend-follower."
Senior center Nick Mangold, who has always opted for a shaggy look, has added a neatly trimmed beard to his visage.
Image-conscious OSU coach Jim Tressel may inwardly cringe that the buzz cut has fallen out of favor, but he's learned to flex.
"I grew up in the Vietnam era, and my hair came out of my helmet a little bit — and I couldn't play like A.J.," Tressel said at the Big Ten meetings last week.
"As long as it's sanitary and doesn't affect reading (a player's) name on his jersey ... We use the term 'lined up.' Like Mangold's beard, it's lined up. It's not scraggly. I guess that's our rule."
Tressel has bigger issues on his mind — like turning the Buckeyes into a cohesive unit over the next three weeks.
To foster team bonding, Tressel has upperclassmen room not with their friends, but with freshmen and sophomores. He also schedules mandatory meditation times and has the seniors give oral reports each night from a book they were required to read.
Tressel chose Jim Collins' Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... And Others Don't.
"That's really a microcosm of our team this year — from good to great," Carpenter said. "It talks about good being the enemy of the great. We need to be upset we were only 8-4 last year.
"We have to change some things we do, add some ingredients and become a better team."
Holmes wants payoff
Junior receiver Santonio Holmes doesn't plan to stick around for his senior year if he approaches his goals of 70 receptions, 1,200 yards and 15 TDs.
"I'm just focused on the team and focused on this being my 'money' year," said Holmes, who had 55 catches, 769 yards and seven TDs last year. "This is the year that determines whether I go to the NFL (in 2006)."
D'Andrea rehabbing
Senior linebacker Mike D'Andrea hasn't played since undergoing ACL surgery at the end of last season, and Carpenter indicated his classmate may not recover in time to play this year.
"I told him, 'If you can't be ready to go 100 percent, we'd all like to go out together, but you have to do what's best for you,' " Carpenter said. "If you have to take a medical red-shirt year, do it.' "
Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/osu/daily/0808osufb.html
Some Buckeyes prefer shaggy look
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | Ohio State football players hunkered down for the start of fall camp Sunday, lugging boxes and trunks into the University Plaza Hotel, which is just a couple of pooch punts from the Woody Hayes practice facility.
But judging from the fashionable mop tops many Buckeyes are sporting these days, one item that may be hard to find at the team's headquarters is hair clippers.
Senior linebackers Bobby Carpenter and A.J. Hawk are among a brigade wearing bangs over their eyes and locks that will protrude from the back of their helmets.
After three years of looking as if they stepped off the set of the sitcom Happy Days, the group could audition for roles on That '70s Show.
"We all decided to get together and let our hair grow out and make a statement," Carpenter said. "Hopefully, we'll play well and not lose any games, so we won't have to cut it.
"My dad and mom have gotten on me — so have A.J.'s. But my dad had long hair in the '70s. His hair came out the back of his helmet, so he needs to chill out. And I tell my mom, 'You're the one who married him. You must not have disliked it too much.'
"Old-school hair is the way to go."
Linebackers coach Luke Fickell has given the players some grief, but he was quickly dismissed.
"I remember the way Kevin Greene of the Steelers wore his hair," Carpenter said, "and I always thought it looked sweet with him. ... I'd rather be a trend-setter than a trend-follower."
Senior center Nick Mangold, who has always opted for a shaggy look, has added a neatly trimmed beard to his visage.
Image-conscious OSU coach Jim Tressel may inwardly cringe that the buzz cut has fallen out of favor, but he's learned to flex.
"I grew up in the Vietnam era, and my hair came out of my helmet a little bit — and I couldn't play like A.J.," Tressel said at the Big Ten meetings last week.
"As long as it's sanitary and doesn't affect reading (a player's) name on his jersey ... We use the term 'lined up.' Like Mangold's beard, it's lined up. It's not scraggly. I guess that's our rule."
Tressel has bigger issues on his mind — like turning the Buckeyes into a cohesive unit over the next three weeks.
To foster team bonding, Tressel has upperclassmen room not with their friends, but with freshmen and sophomores. He also schedules mandatory meditation times and has the seniors give oral reports each night from a book they were required to read.
Tressel chose Jim Collins' Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... And Others Don't.
"That's really a microcosm of our team this year — from good to great," Carpenter said. "It talks about good being the enemy of the great. We need to be upset we were only 8-4 last year.
"We have to change some things we do, add some ingredients and become a better team."
Holmes wants payoff
Junior receiver Santonio Holmes doesn't plan to stick around for his senior year if he approaches his goals of 70 receptions, 1,200 yards and 15 TDs.
"I'm just focused on the team and focused on this being my 'money' year," said Holmes, who had 55 catches, 769 yards and seven TDs last year. "This is the year that determines whether I go to the NFL (in 2006)."
D'Andrea rehabbing
Senior linebacker Mike D'Andrea hasn't played since undergoing ACL surgery at the end of last season, and Carpenter indicated his classmate may not recover in time to play this year.
"I told him, 'If you can't be ready to go 100 percent, we'd all like to go out together, but you have to do what's best for you,' " Carpenter said. "If you have to take a medical red-shirt year, do it.' "
Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125.
